Stonham Barns Golf Centre Limited

Golf clubs can be perceived as exclusive and inaccessible to a lot of people. Stonham Barns Golf Complex in Suffolk is quite the opposite, offering a family friendly nine hole golf course, with the added benefit of a hire shop, driving range and a mini golf course all at an affordable price. Membership is an option but is not compulsory enabling a “try before you buy” approach to budding golfers on a limited budget.

The Stonham Barns Golf Centre is situated in an established leisure complex which includes a bird of prey sanctuary, garden centre, shops and café.

Tony Dobson, owner and manager of the Golf Centre, is a professional golf coach and has 30 years of experience running golfing establishments in the county. Keen to enable golf to be accessible to all, he set up the Stonham Barns Golf Complex in 1997 and saw its popularity rise. Sadly the original owners of the leisure complex failed to invest in its upkeep, and this coupled with poor weather over the last few years, has had an effect on visitor numbers. Good news came at last when the complex was sold to an enthusiastic new owner, who has since invested time and money in bringing the complex back to a good standard, including increased marketing initiatives, and this is bringing more customers to Tony’s door.

In order to ensure the business he built from scratch did not fail, Tony needed to make some improvements to the course and increase his own marketing activity. He applied to his bank but was declined due to poor revenues from previous years trading. His bank referred him to Foundation East and Business Loans Manager Valerie Jarrett was keen to support Tony, as his projected cash flow was realistic and he had good ideas on how to increase his customer base. In order to help further Tony she recommended he received coaching from John Porter and with both John and Valerie’s help Tony’s business is once again on the up.

Foundation East Limited – A Registered Society No. 29722R. An Exempt Charity recognised by the Inland Revenue.
We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Firm Reference Number 725178.